News
Systematic police violence against refugees in Patras, Greece Refugees in the Greek harbor city
PRO ASYL and the Greek Council for Refugees publish report on systematic police violence against refugees in the Greek harbor city Patras.
AccorÂding to vicÂtims’ stateÂments assaults usualÂly occur during raids and idenÂtiÂty checks in the harÂbor area, in self-made shelÂters of refuÂgees or on the open street. The alleÂged vioÂlence includes verÂbal assaults, masÂsiÂve intiÂmiÂdaÂtiÂon and excesÂsiÂve phyÂsiÂcal bruÂtaÂliÂty up to torÂtuÂre. TheÂse human rights vioÂlaÂtiÂons take place in a cliÂmaÂte of impuÂniÂty for the perÂpeÂtraÂtors. FurÂtherÂmoÂre, humaÂne accomÂmoÂdaÂtiÂon or healthcare for refuÂgees is scarÂce in Patras and access to asylÂum proÂceÂduÂres isn’t guaÂranÂteed. InsÂtead, refuÂgees are tarÂgets of conÂtiÂnuous attacks from right extreÂmist mobs.
“The aim of the report is not to geneÂralÂly conÂdemn PoliÂce and Coast Guard or to jusÂtiÂfy any migrant or refugee’s criÂmiÂnal action. The aim of the report is to conÂtriÂbuÂte to a betÂter underÂstanÂding of the situaÂtiÂon of migrants and refuÂgees in Patras as well as the roots of racism in this city. FurÂtherÂmoÂre, this report aims to push all releÂvant autÂhoÂriÂties to furÂther invesÂtiÂgaÂte the situaÂtiÂon in Patras, to stop the vioÂlence and to lead perÂpeÂtraÂtors to jusÂtiÂce”, says Panos ChrisÂtoÂdouÂlou, DirecÂtor of the Greek CounÂcil for Refugees.
PRO ASYL and the Greek CounÂcil for RefuÂgees call on the new Greek GovernÂment, which will be elecÂted on SunÂday, to take all necesÂsaÂry actions to put an end to bruÂtaÂliÂty against refuÂgees. First of all, the prinÂciÂple of rule-of-law needs to be reestabÂlished. The perÂpeÂtraÂtors of vioÂlence need to be punisÂhed and Greece needs to adheÂre to interÂnaÂtioÂnal human right stanÂdards. This includes the estabÂlishÂment of a funcÂtioÂning asylÂum and recepÂtiÂon system.
FinalÂly, both orgaÂnizaÂtiÂons criÂtiÂciÂze the cyniÂcal attempt to reinÂtroÂduÂce borÂder conÂtrols within the SchenÂgen area, while ignoÂring the traÂgic situaÂtiÂon of refuÂgees who are trapÂped in Greek transit.
“EuroÂpean poliÂtiÂciÂans, incluÂding GerÂman MinisÂter of InteÂriÂor FriedÂrich, have conÂtriÂbuÂted to the escalaÂtiÂon in Patras and Athens with their popuÂlist camÂpaign against Greece,” staÂted Karl Kopp, DirecÂtor of EuroÂpean Affairs at PRO ASYL. “GerÂmaÂny and EuroÂpe have to take conÂcreÂte action in order to proÂmoÂte humaÂniÂty and soliÂdaÂriÂty. Given the cataÂstroÂphic situaÂtiÂon of refuÂgees in Athens and Patras, EU memÂber staÂtes need to deciÂde on a geneÂrous reloÂcaÂtiÂon proÂgram from Greece,” he concluded.